BEST SEASONS
April, May, September, October

DIFFICULTY
Moderate difficulty, no technical skills required, moderate fitness needed

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, hiking pole, gloves, hat, sunscreen, water-proof jacket, basic first-aid supplies, backpack (30L–40L).

DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FROM HOME CITY
Depart on international flight to Beijing

DAY 2 | ARRIVAL IN BEIJING
Arrive at Beijing airport in the afternoon. Our guide will meet you there and take you to your hotel.
Dinner included.

DAY 3 | BEIJING – SHANHAIGUAN
After an early breakfast, we leave the city of Beijing and make our way to the “old dragon’s head”, the eastern-most point of the Great Wall where it meets the sea. Our journey is more than 400 km and should take about 4 hours on roads that are generally in good condition. After lunch, we visit the fortifications of the old dragon's head. Following the visit, we will drive to Shanhaiguan Pass (also known as “the first pass of the sky”) where we will take a pleasant hike, lasting about an hour and a half. During this time we will pass small villages that look out to the distant fortress towers of Shanghaiguan. A short transfer will take us to the fortress itself, where we will stop for about an hour. Following our rest, we will move on to the hotel for our first night near the Wall (a traditional-style boutique hotel).
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Travel notes: Walking time: 1.5 hours

DAY 4 | THE CHALLENGE BEGINS | SHANHAIGUAN – XIAOHEKOU
After a good night’s sleep, we will take a short journey to Mount Jiaoshan, where we will walk from the foot of the mountain up to the Great Wall. In times of good weather, you can enjoy great views of the city of Shanghaiguan, below, which, at this time of day, is bathed in morning sunlight.
We continue our walk, heading northwest for another 3-4 hours, at times on the Wall and at times on mountain trails. Our destination is a beautiful valley dominated by the imposing Longevity Mountain. This peaceful valley is characterized by large boulders, a quiet forest, and crystal-clear streams.
In the shadow of Longevity Mountain lies the small village of Sandaoguan (meaning “three passes”), in which about 35 families live. We will walk to the village, where we will rest a little before returning to our vehicle to drive to the village of Xiaohekou. Here, we will enjoy the unique experience of spending the night with a local family. The locals’ homes here are very simple, but clean. They use beds called “kang”, which are a style of bed popular in northern China. The bathrooms, though outside, have hot water for showers.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 12 km | Walking time: 6-7 hours

DAY 5 | XIAOHEKOU – DONGJIAKOU – QIAN'AN
Today promises to be a special day. We leave Xiaohekou early in the morning and start the day with a short walk up the mountain to take a look at Xigou Tower. This tower is a special monument in this section of the wall.
Next, we continue on to Dongjiakou to visit the ruins of a fortress and to share a little time with the villagers. The guardians of the Wall, they are the direct descendants of the original builders. They have maintained and protected this segment of the Wall for generations, without government assistance. Though just 8.9 km long, the Dongjiakou section of the Wall, thanks to the villagers’ efforts, is one of the best-preserved parts that came from the Ming Dynasty and has stood here for more than 600 years. 
Late in the afternoon, we will drive for about 2 hours to the city of Qian’an, where we will check in to the hotel for our overnight stay.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 12 km | Walking time: 6-7 hours

DAY 6 | QIAN’AN
On this day we start with a trek from the village of the great dragon temple to Lengkou. This is one of the best-preserved sections of the Wall in the region, and is surrounded by green, meandering trails. Spend the day at a “fake fortress” specially built to deter invaders.
In the afternoon, we return to Qian’an to rest.
Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 10 km | Walking time: 5-6 hours

DAY 7 | QIAN’AN – ZUNHUA
We return to the village of the great dragon temple and continue westward along the Great Wall to Baiyangyu. Baiyangyu is a strategic point in the region, and a large section of the wall (1.5 km) is built primarily of marble.
Our journey will take us to the Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty, where we will spend the night.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included. (Hotel suites include two beds per room and private bathroom.)
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 10 km | Walking time: 5-6 hours

DAY 8 | ZUNHUA – HUANGYAGUAN
This morning we visit the Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty in the east, which far exceed in splendor and majesty the tombs of their more famous predecessors, the Ming Tombs. The Imperial Tombs are the Qing Dynasty’s equivalent of the Forbidden City and are almost as complex.
Most of this vast imperial city has been tastefully renovated, and, happily, far fewer visitors come here than go to the Ming Tombs.
After lunch, we leave for an hour-and-a-half drive to a small village. From here we will walk westward for about an hour and a half before reaching Huangyaguan Pass, where we will stay for the night in a hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included. (Hotel suites include two beds per room and private bathroom.)
Travel notes: Walking time: 1.5 hours

DAY 9 | HUANGYAGUAN – SIMATAI
Huangyaguan Pass is located in a beautiful valley in the heart of the Yanshan Mountains. This morning we will climb the recently restored steps up a steep slope to reach what appears to be a wall of rock. At this point we will look upon the “ladder to heaven”, a very steep climb to the summit of the precipice. Once at the top, we will take a break to catch our breaths, then continue on along the gradual rise to the ridge, at which point we will join the old Wall that follows the contours of the mountain. After this climb, you will definitely have a better idea of the incredible challenge that faced the builders of the Wall.
Our trek continues into the afternoon, following the Great Wall as it gradually descends into the valley.
After Huangyaguan, we stop at Qiangzilu to discover the greatest ‘V’ section of the Great Wall. This is one of the most spectacular parts that we’ll encounter. After this we continue on to Simatai where we will spend the night at a hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included. (Hotel suites include two beds per room and private bathroom.)
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 8 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours

DAY 10 | SIMATAI – JINSHANLING
After breakfast, we begin our trek at Simatai. We will ascend to various high points in this section, including Wangjing Tower. According to locals, if the weather is good, you can even see the city of Beijing from here. A stop at Wuyan Tower will give us superb views of the Simatai section of the Great Wall and the surrounding area.
Continuing to the west, we hike in the direction of Jinshanling, where we will stay overnight. At this time, you’ll enjoy perhaps the trek’s most beautiful moment – the sun setting on the mountains and the Wall.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included. (Hotel suites include two beds per room and private bathroom.)
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 15 km | Walking time: 6-7 hours

DAY 11 | JINSHANLING – GUBEIKOU
After breakfast, our tour continues, starting from Jinshanling and heading west toward the Goubeikou tower and section of the wall. This part of the hike requires us to temporarily leave the Wall and travel along a country road in order to bypass a military zone. The hike today is fairly easy, given that the Jinshanling Great Wall section is very well maintained.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 15 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours

DAY 12 | GUBEIKOU – BEIJING | THE CHALLENGE COMES TO AN END
A short journey brings us to the Wohushan section of the Wall, where we will embark on another two hours of hiking. This section sits astride the rocky mountains of Wohushan (“Crouching Tiger Mountain”). Its name comes from two peaks that look like tigers, one looking up and the other crouching.
This part of the Wall continues for 13.6 km into Wohushan and is punctuated with 20 towers. But don’t worry – our hike covers only a portion of that distance. This entire segment of the Wall is rarely visited by tourists.
Our vehicle will be waiting for us at the end of the hike, ready to take us to Beijing, where you will check into your hotel. This marks the end of your hike along the Great Wall of China, an unforgettable experience that will stay in your heart for the rest of your life.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Travel notes: Distance traveled: 8 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours

DAY 13 | BEIJING
On our last day, we will enjoy a stroll in Tian’anmen Square, visit the Forbidden City and walk up Coal Hill to take in views of the city’s skyline. You’ll have free time in the afternoon for last-minute shopping and then enjoy the local specialty, Peking duck, for dinner. 
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.

DAY 14 | BEIJING
Breakfast at hotel before transferring to the airport for your return flight.
Dinner included.

Included in program:

• Daily hotel room occupancy for two, with breakfast
• Private air-conditioned bus for transfers and excursions
• English- or French-speaking guides
• Meals mentioned in the program
• 3L of mineral water per person per day during the challenge
• Entry tickets to the locations specified in the program

Not included in program

• International flights
• Insurance
• Visa to China
• Tips for guides and driver
• Personal consumption

Hotel guide:

Beijing Guangxi Hotel – **** or similar
Shanghaiguan: Holidays Shanhai Hotel – **** or similar
Qian’an: Jinjiang Hotel – **** or similar
Zunhua: International Hotel Zunhua – ***+ or similar
Huangyaguan: Huangyaguan Hotel – **+ or similar
Simatai: Auberge Simatai –**+ or similar
Jinshanling: Jinshan Hotel – **+ or similar